Hypothyroidism is a prevalent condition and may be the result of underlying conditions, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In order to diagnose an underactive thyroid and isolate the possible cause, a thyroid profile blood test may be requested by your doctor. Apart from confirming diagnosis and providing valuable information as to the possible cause, the thyroid test will also identify the level of low thyroid activity and assist with assessing the efficacy of thyroid drugs.

continue reading Low Thyroid Test Levels

Treatment for an enlarged prostate depends upon the severity of the symptoms, and if the symptoms are mild or absent (asymptomatic), active treatment may not be necessary. Prostate treatment may include

1. Medication or drug therapy
2. Non-surgical therapies
3. Surgical procedures

continue reading Prostate Enlargement Treatment – Drugs, Surgery for BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate gland is a very common condition in older men with estimates indicating that up to one in every two men suffers with this condition. The prostate gland, which is normally about the size of a walnut, starts to enlarge quite often after the age of forty, but may produce symptoms of enlargement much later. Most symptoms are caused due to compression of the urethra by the enlarged prostate gland, such as difficulty in passing urine, weak flow and incomplete emptying of the bladder. Benign prostatic hypertrophy is a non-cancerous condition and does not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.

continue reading Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – Enlarged Prostate Gland

Pressure on the nerve roots as they leave the spine produce symptoms of nerve compression, and the nerve roots in the lumbar region of the spine are most liable to be pinched or compressed as a result of maximum movement of the vertebrae in this region. Lumbar nerve compression is commonly known as sciatica, which is the most frequent of all the pinched nerve conditions.

continue reading Pinched Nerve Lower Back – Lumbar Nerve Compression

Nerve compression at the level of the thoracic vertebrae, or thoracic radiculopathy, is less common than in the cervical radiculopathy or lumbar nerve compression because of the lower amount of pressure and movement that the thoracic vertebrae are subjected to. However a pinched nerve at the thoracic level may cause symptoms that just as severe, usually presenting as pain, tingling, and numbness in the arms, chest, abdomen or pelvis.

continue reading Pinched Thoracic Nerve – Radiculopathy, Compression

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disease, which is one of the leading causes of hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid functioning. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis causes primary hypothyroidism, where the underactivity is due directly to poor thyroid functioning, rather than an interference with thyroid-pituitary regulating mechanism. Since Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is one of the  organ specific types of autoimmune disease, the dysfunction results from the body’s immune system ‘attacking’ the thyroid gland, when lymphocytes penetrate the thyroid gland and cause significant inflammation. This autoimmune thyroid disease affects more women than men and there is strong evidence to suggest a genetic link to  this form of thyroiditis, although the presence of other organ specific autoimmune diseases, like type I diabetes, may also be a consideration when assessing family history.

continue reading Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

A cervical pinched nerve or nerve compression occurs as it leaves the spine in the neck and produces a condition known as cervical radiculopathy. The nerve may be compressed or irritated due to a herniated intervertebral disc, bone spurs, spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease, and may produce symptoms such as pain, numbness or tingling in the arms, hands or shoulders.

continue reading Pinched Neck Nerve – Cervical Radiculopathy, Compression

What is a sputum culture?

The material which is coughed up from the lungs and then spat out or expectorated is called sputum or sometimes referred to as phlegm. A sputum culture is done to identify the microorganism causing lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. A fever with a chronic cough , along with blood or pus-like material in the sputum, is usually an indication for undertaking a sputum culture.

continue reading Sputum or Phlegm Bacteria Culture Lab Test

What is a Blood Culture?

This test is advisable when there are symptoms of blood infection such as septicemia or bacteremia and blood culture is done to identify the bacteria or other microorganism. A blood microbial culture will be requested by your doctor depending on your case history and clinical findings upon physical examination.

Collection of Specimen

About 10 ml (0.3 fl oz) of blood is withdrawn with a needle and syringe from a vein, either on the inside of the elbow or back of the hand, and collected in two vials. It is sent to the laboratory where it is placed on a petri dish with agar. This is the ideal medium for bacterial growth and after incubation, it will indicate clear areas of bacterial growth if there was bacteria present in the blood specimen.

continue reading Bacteria Blood Culture Lab Test

What is a Microbial Culture?

A microbial culture is one of the diagnostic methods of microbiology and is used to determine the cause of an infectious disease by allowing the microorganism to multiply in certain specific media under controlled laboratory conditions. This helps to determine the type as well as severity of the infection by doing a colony count of the organism in the specimen.

continue reading Microbial Culture Lab Test for Bacteria, Fungus